CRISS-CROSS COASTERS

Phew! Just in the nick of time (6 hours left in January), I have an OPAM finish! I realized today that it was the last of the month, so I took out this project. I've been wanting to making these for a couple years, since I first saw them floating around on the net. I don't think it's a published pattern, but I will put a tutorial on my blog in a few days for how to make them, as well as a link to another variation. Hint, they are NOT made from 4-patches, and there is only ONE seam.

I used a charm pack to make these coasters. Can you guess which fabric line it's from? Following Angela's lead, I've decided to run a little blog contest. If you think you know the name of the fabric, please leave a comment (well you are always welcome to do that anyway) that you'll be emailing me with your guess (nana.quilts@gmail.com). Don't post it in your comment for all to se! I will place all correct guesses into a random generator on Monday. The winner winner will receive.......???????????? Well, I'm not sure what yet. It will be something nice, but not huge, LOL!

So come on and play with me, please.

MEETING A FRIEND

Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet up with one of my on-line friends, Althea, at a quilt shop in Dunedin, FL. We are co-moderators on the yahoo Friendship Swap group. It was so fun to finally see each other in the flesh. It was as if we'd known each other all along! And what a fun venue -- Rainbow's End quilt shop!

It is so special when you finanlly come face-to-face with gals you've known for years on-line.

2011 OPAM

One Project A Month (OPAM) is up and running for 2011. I participated in 2009 but not last year. I missed the challenge of finishing something, anything, no matter how big or small each month.

I'll be posting this link and a list of my finishes on my side bar.

IN THE TREES

 

 

Today I'll be working on this patio of our tree house. Really it's a tree house that I'm staying in with friends. The basket has all my stitching stuff for my tiny spool blocks. Later we'll be going to tea, and still later, to the hot tub. Not a bad day!

HELP FOR FLOOD VICTIMS

The Gum Tree Designers have put together a way that quilters and other crafters can help those who've lost everything in the recent floods in Australia. Click here for more info. We all know how stitching mends the soul in troubling times.

THREE KINGS DAY

Today, 12 days after Christmas, is the Feast of The Three Kings. In honor of this day, Penny, of How to Quilt, has posted a quilt-as-you-go tutorial using the Three Kings Block. How appropriate is that???? You too, just like the kings, can travel, and still take your quilting project with you with this method. Click here for more info on this.

CIVIL WAR QUILTS

2011 is the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War.

Quilt historian Barbara Brackman is starting a new and exciting BOW commerating this event. She even has started a blog just for this project. Each week she will be posting a free block pattern as well as a CW story to go along with it.

What an interesting project! Did I say new project???

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS

Speaking of New Year's resolutions, I ran across this button on Ann Ida's blog today. Last year her button said, "I'll make what I love............and finish what I start!" That's nice, but I do like her resolve this year. As one with four major projects going (Dear Jane, Sylvia's Bridal Sampler, Women of the Bible, and Vintage Valentine), as well as numerous smaller projects, I can really see the wisdom in this. I don't want my kids to inherit a bunch of started projects that they have no idea what to do with!

Anne Ida isn't talking about the small projects that pop up. The occasional inspirational small project you want to try. The charity quilt. The birthday gift. It's the big stuff here. Feel free to pop over to her blog to get the button, should you choose to join us.